The King William Charles Lunalilo Trust announced the appointment of Dr. J. Kuhio Asam as interim executive director of Lunalilo Home, an elderly care residence in Hawaii Kai.

“Dr. Asam has a wealth of health and administrative leadership experience and we are very pleased to have him join our team,” Stanley Hong, chairman of the Board of Trustees, said.

The Lunalilo trust oversees the first ali’i charitable trust to benefit Native Hawaiians.

“Lunalilo Home is a special place, with a unique history,” Dr. Asam said. “I am honored to accept this appointment and look forward to working with the trustees on behalf of serving our kupuna, their families and our communities.”

Dr. Asam was the medical director of APS Healthcare Hawaii from 2002 to last year. He also ran Kahi Mohala Hospital as its medical director from 1994 to 2002.

Dr. Asam is a graduate of the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine, Yale University and Kamehameha Schools. He is actively involved in the community in numerous volunteer capacities. He is a trustee for the University of Hawaii Foundation and Hanahau'oli School. He is a member of the board of directors for Kahi Mohala Hospital, 'Aha Hui o Na Kauka, and the Mental Health Association. His wife, Dr. Claire L. Asam, is a trustee of Queen Lili'uokalani Trust.

As provided in the Lunalilo will, three trustees oversee the Trust Estate. Lunalilo Home also has a growing adult day care center and a meals-on-wheels program serving east Honolulu.

Probate Judge Colleen Hirai last year appointed Kamani Kuala’au as trustee and also made permanent the appointment of trustee Harvey H. McInerny, Jr.

“Our trustees have extensive business and financial experience, and share a deep commitment to the Hawaiian community,” Hong said. “Dr. Asam shares that commitment, and he will help guide us as we expand our trust and the programs of senior care for our kupuna.”

Lunalilo Home was established in 1883 under King William Charles Lunalilo’s will to care for elderly Hawaiians. Lunalilo’s reign in 1873 was the shortest of all eight Hawaiian monarchs. It lasted one year and twenty five days. He died on Feb. 3, 1874 at the age of 39. Lunalilo was the first of the land-owning ali‘i to create a charitable trust for the benefit of Native Hawaiians.

The elderly care home was first located near Roosevelt High School, but moved to east Honolulu in 1927, long before Hawaii Kai was developed by Henry Kaiser. This land area was provided as a gift from the Brown family (John Ii Estate, Ltd) in memory of their mother Irene Ii Holloway, daughter of John Ii, who was a close friend and fellow privy councilor of King Lunalilo’s father, Charles Kana‘ina.

While giving preference to Native Hawaiians, the current 45-bed facility is open to all applicants. The adult day care center opened in 2004 and is popular, giving residents of any ethnicity day care from 6:30 AM to 6:30 PM, Monday through Friday.